In a major setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Chadha made this announcement during a press conference on Friday. The development came days after he was removed as the deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. MPs Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak also attended the press conference. Chadaha said that apart from him, Pathak and Mittal, four other AAP MPs also joined the BJP with them. These four MPs they named are cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Vikram Sahney, and Rajinder Gupta.

For the unversed, among the seven MPs that joined the BJP, six are from Punjab. Addressing a press conference here, Chadha said that seven out of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP are set to merge with the BJP. "In the Rajya Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party has 10 MPs. More than two-thirds of them are with us in this initiative. They have already signed, and this morning we submitted all the required documentation, including signed letters and other formal paperwork, to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Chadha said.

As I mentioned, more than two-thirds of the MPs are supporting us, and we will provide you with the complete list shortly. Three of them are present here before you. In addition, there is world-class cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahney, and Swati Maliwal. The three present here are Ashok (Mittal) ji, Sandeep Pathak, and myself, " he added.

While, speaking at the press conference, the Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab said that the AAP, which he joined 15 years back, deviated from its principles, values and core morals.

"The AAP, which I nurtured with my blood and sweat, and gave 15 years of my youth to, has deviated from its principles, values and core morals. Now this party does not work in the interest of the nation but for its personal benefits...For the past few years, I could feel that I am the right man in the wrong party. So, today, we announce that I am distancing myself from the AAP and getting close to public," he said.

Meanwhile, Pathak said, "I have been associated with this party for the past ten years, and today I am parting ways with the Aam Aadmi Party."

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh hit out at he BJP over the seven AAP MPs joining the saffron party. He said that the BJP launched "operation lotus" to disrupt the good work of the Bhagwant-Mann-led AAP government in Punjab.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party, under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, has launched ‘Operation Lotus’, which is being described as a game of cheap politics and an attempt to obstruct the good work of the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab on a large scale," Singh said.

He accused the BJP of misusing central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to manipulate the AAP MPs.

"Our MPs are being manipulated and made to join another party. Agencies like the ED and CBI are being used. You may recall that just a few days ago there was an ED raid on Ashok Mittal, and things seem to connect, there was a raid and then he was taken away. This suggests that fear is being used and the administrative system is being misused to run ‘Operation Lotus’. I repeat, the people of Punjab will never forgive these action," Singh told reporters.

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